A Shortcut to the Best of the Kentucky Bourbon Trail

As whiskey pilgrimages go, it’s hard to beat the Kentucky Bourbon Trail. What started 20 years ago with a handful of producers opening their doors to a public thirsty for brown spirits has slowly grown into one of the biggest attractions in the Bluegrass State. The official route packs in 36 distilleries, representing some of the oldest and newest whiskey makers in America. It would take weeks to properly tour each one, and if you have the time and liver function, you should do precisely that. In the meantime, however, find yourself a shortcut. From Lexington to Bardstown, Loretto to Louisville, these are the 13 best distilleries on the Kentucky Bourbon Trail.—Virginia Miller

*Distilleries are listed in alphabetical order.

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Angel’s Envy was co-founded by Wes Henderson with his father and bourbon legend Lincoln Henderson, who died in 2013, famed as…

Angel’s Envy was co-founded by Wes Henderson with his father and bourbon legend Lincoln Henderson, who died in 2013, famed as the creator of Woodford Reserve and Gentleman Jack. Wes, alongside production manager and son Kyle, carry on the family whiskey legacy. They consider the future with projects like the Toast the Trees program, in which thousands of white oak trees are planted to restore the balance of lumber used to make whiskey barrels.

Bardstown Bourbon Company is a different kind of distillery, set on 100 acres of active farmland in the charming town of…

Bardstown Bourbon Company is a different kind of distillery, set on 100 acres of active farmland in the charming town of Bardstown. More than merely bucolic, the modern distillery produces nearly 40 mash bills of custom rye, whiskey and bourbon for brands like Belle Meade, Calumet, High West, Hirsch and Jefferson’s. Steve Nally grew up next to Maker’s Mark, where he worked for more than 30 years. Here, he experiments with house bottlings aged in wine casks and mixing different blends and styles of whiskeys together.

Head to the yellow building marked by the iconic four-roses emblem, and you’ve found the Four Roses distillery. It recently underwent…

Head to the yellow building marked by the iconic four-roses emblem, and you’ve found the Four Roses distillery. It recently underwent a $55 million expansion, with new outdoor patios and a spiffed-up tasting room. Launched in the late 1800s, the brand changed hands over the years and was discontinued for decades before being revived in the U.S. in 1995. Four Roses is known for its five proprietary yeast strains, allowing for countless whiskey variations, which are often chosen as house barrels by bars around the world.

Bottle to try: Loyal fans of its small-batch or single-barrel bourbons abound, but in April 2019 the distillery celebrated its expansion project with a 104-proof Small Batch Select bourbon, its first permanent new bottle release in 12 years.

What to know: Brent Elliott became master distiller in 2015. You may catch him on a tour of the main Lawrenceburg distillery.